Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-04-28


spise the manual toiler. Has not pride
here formed mirage? Ishonest labor
a degradation? Is not the hard, horny
hand of the honest laborer whittier than
the taperipg fingers of the forger, and
the hand that guides the pillow softer
than the hand that harrows up the
feelings of a nation? Divinity alone is
exempt from obligations to labor, and
when humanity was assumed, He
worked at the carpenters bench.
True. an official life is tree from man
ual labor, but at what a sacrifice! How
favor-seeking, restrained and depend
ent compared with the plain, tranquil
and independent life of the farmer.
"Ye see yon birkie, cad lord,
Wha struts, and stares, and a. that;
Though hundreds worship at his word,
He's but coof for a. that,
For a. that, and a. that,
His riband, star, and a. that,
The man of Independent mind,
He looks and laughs at a. that"
A public officer must flatter the van
ity and accommodate himself to the
vices of an exacting and ungrateful
public; submit to all the follies of the
age; take advantage of it's errors and
defend it's prejudices. He must live
splendidly, when he would prefer COM
fort and quiet; he must entertain the
Indifferent and inquisitive, when he
had rather be surrounded by the chos-
en- friends of his youth. This, then, is
the hs'cyon state which is coveted,
sought after and even bought by foul
means. To give their sons an oppor-
tunity of embracing such life, gray
haired parents leave the old farm and
move to that modern Utopia-town.
At the most critical period of these
sons life; at time when they should
re kept away from the pernicious influ-
ences of town and be allowed to imbibe
the healthful training of country life,
these parents, actuated by the desire to
benefit their children, take them to
town Or city. Mind, do not mean
that farmers children should not have
access to the pleasures of society if they
desire it, or that whatever talents they
possess may not be allowed full scope;
on the contrary, daily observation
proves that many of the charms and
some of the benefits of farming may be
enjoyed without retiring to any very
considerable distance from the metrop-
oils; it is. therefore, great mistake to
suppose that the pleasures of society
are incompatible with the benefits of
farming. However, if your son has the
necessary amount of talent and courage,
and if his tastes accord with any of the
professions or public offices, by all
means allow him to follow the bent of
his inclinations, but do not mistake as
piration for inspiration, and remember
that first-class ambition often accom-
panies third-rate powers.
An examination of the leading men
Of our cities, both In the learned pro-
fessions and in business, will show that
the majority of them were reared on
farm. 1t is evident that there is some
thing in country training that develops
energy of character. Country boys
learn at an early age to contend with
opposition and to work for what they
want. They naturally form habits of
industry and economy, and these tell
in the struggle OF life. Of course, it is
possible for men to be deliberate and
wise amidst all the tumultuous folly of
the world, especially if their principles
be we'll fixed before they enter on the
stage of public life; but integrity Is un-
doubleday more easily preserved in the
innocent simplicity of rural life. After
all. is not tranquility the great desid-
eratum? The great, while following the
star of glory, and the little, while creep
ing in the styes of dissipation, sigh for
tranquility, and make it the great OBJ
ject which they ultimately hope to OBJ
tain. Even kings grow weary OF their
splendid slavery-in short, all feel less
actual enjoyment in the great and hon.
orable positions than in the idea of
their being able to relinquish them and
retire to 'some calm sequestered spot"
Milton in that well-known passage has
written nobly of fame as, 1.-THE spur
which the clear spirit doth raise" But
he feels obliged to add:
"(That last infirmity of noble minds,
To scorn delights and live laborious days.)"
Let us then help to raise the manual
toiler to his true position in the esteem
of the public; avoid. if possible. the ele
ments of official life, rather preferring
the vocation of the farmer, in which a
man may pass his days in virtuous in
dustry, surrounded by few faithful
friends, and in the bosom of fond and
cheerful family, whose mutual endear-
ments will confer on each other the
highest happiness human nature Is
capable Of enjoying.
J. u. s..
Report Of Middlebrook Public School.
E1I1axrfnrr &c ha hIx-r M for no